Burgeaux Bay

Burgeaux Bay is one of the most discreet beaches in south-west Sint Maarten, tucked between Maho, the west end of Princess Juliana Airport’s runway and Mullet Bay. A small crescent bay edged with rocks and tropical vegetation, with clear turquoise water and a resolutely local feel: no rows of loungers, no music, hardly ever a cruise crowd.

Access is via Beacon Hill, the residential neighbourhood on the hill behind the bay. From Maho, allow 5 minutes by car or a 15-minute walk through the small Beacon Hill streets, then drop down via a discreet path between the villas. Parking is informal along the road: few spots, do not block private access, and be respectful – this is a residential area.

The beach is narrow: a thin strip of sand fringed with rocks and dead coral heads. The shore drops gently, but rocks break the surface in places. Water shoes are genuinely useful. Swimming is pleasant on calm days; when a south-west swell comes up (often late season), it can bring short waves and a current. No lifeguard.

The rocks make Burgeaux a good local snorkeling spot, especially to the right and left of the bay: parrotfish, sergeant-majors, blue damselfish, occasional barracudas and stingrays offshore. Visibility is best early in the morning before the wind ripples the surface. Stay near the rocks and do not drift out.

On site, no regular services: no restaurant, no lounger rental, no toilets. Bring water, mask & snorkel, parasol, reef-safe mineral sunscreen and a trash bag. Burgeaux is also an excellent plan B on days when Maho is overrun: just 5 minutes away, the contrast is total.